Chicken bald back

[wez]

Blimey ... all was well, couple of eggs from Tilly and Ruby this morning, Milly and Lilly in the nestbox this afternoon then Dolly the last of the bunch pootled in there and came out again a few minutes later. Milly followed but no sign of Lilly. I left it for a while but when checking the nestbox the wall in the corner was splattered with blood and a very ropy looking Lilly was in there with a bleeding comb. Of course all hell broke loose and I yelled for hubster who cam dashing out wondering why I was so excited about another egg ... into the house, stemming the bleeding with kitchen roll etc, hubs despatched to shop for violet antibac spray and after a clean up and administration we could breathe again. She's fine now, not bleeding, comb cleverly disguised as a 70s punk Mohican and she's eating and drinking and pottering about again with the others as she squawked blue murder to get out in the garden again. I think they'd got a bit cramped with 3 in the box and Milly went for her. They've been harmonious since November when we got them and I know we should try to keep her separate but she's more stressed apart. We've been watching all afternoon for any repercussions, it'll be dark soon so hopefully a peaceful night and hubs will be on watch duty all day tomorrow. We are supposed to be going away on Friday for the weekend, leaving them for the first time so naturally we had to have some sort of disaster to make us feel like cancelling. If there's any argy bargy tomorrow she'll have to spend the weekend in the garage in a makeshift den but thanks girls ... what a way to end the day!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Oh dear, poor girl . Bleeding combs do look rather dramatic, don't they - must be the head shaking that gives that splatter effect . Glad you managed to get her cleaned up .

[mollyripkim]

Oh dear, what a day, hope calm is reigning and you have a good weekend away.

[Valkyrie]

Oh yes, bloody combs - got more purple spray and wound powder on me than on the bird!!! They shake their heads and it flies all over the place.

Sometimes the little darlings like to be divas and have the nest box to themselves.

[Beantree]

Sounds like a challenge to be top hen Wez. As you say, cramped conditions will aggravate tensions. We've just had a turnaround in hierarchy between two bantam English Leghorn cocks and that was a mess because they have huge combs and wattles. Lived together peacefully since hatching 18 months ago and now what was the youngest and smallest decides to fight. He did win top spot but looks a real mess for it. All superficial and should mend quickly and invisibly.

[Alis girls]

Ooh nasty CSI henhouse with the blood splatter. Thankfully seen it only once and had the punk rocker hen - also had purple fingers for a week as in my panic forgot the gloves Try explaining that to patients at work.

[wez]

Well ... a peaceful night and day thankfully, more purple daubing this morning but Lilly still managed to pop out and egg despite yesterdays' trauma so she must be ok fingers crossed. Will be leaving the inlaws to check on them on Friday and Saturday afternoon after we leave tomorrow morning ... coop door open, run door shut and I'll be fretting about them all the time. Worse than stressing about kids I'm sure ... !